Law creates 'Program to Combat Haters' in public and private schools in RN

The government of Rio Grande do Norte sanctioned, on Friday (18), the law that creates the program to combat haters in public and private schools.

The new legislation, published on Saturday (19), aims to raise awareness among the school community about the effects of virtual attacks and support victims.

The law defines a hater as someone who intentionally commits digital violence. Victims will have priority in accessing assistance services.

Institutions must register and remove offenses from their pages. The occurrence must also be reported to the competent public bodies.

Failure to comply with the law can result in a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 UFIR/RN. Individuals identified as responsible may also be punished.

The Government of Rio Grande do Norte sanctioned, on Friday (18), the law that creates the "State Program to Combat Haters" in the State's public and private education networks. The initiative provides educational actions for primary and secondary school students and establishes measures against violent practices in the digital environment.

A hater is a person who uses the internet, social networks or other digital means to intentionally attack, humiliate, intimidate or offend someone. These attacks can cause suffering and affect the victim both emotionally and psychologically.

In accordance with law (nº 12,878), the program aims to raise awareness among the school community about the effects of virtual attacks, forms of prevention and means of supporting victims. The measure was published in the Official Gazette on Saturday (19).

The legislation considers a hater to be a person who intentionally and individually or in groups commits acts of violence via the internet, social networks, websites or other digital platforms, with the aim of intimidating, attacking, causing suffering or humiliating someone.

Objectives

The law also guarantees victims priority access to public medical, social, psychological and legal assistance services. Service may be offered through agreements.

Among the program’s objectives are:

Inform the school community about forms of digital violence and their consequences;

Encourage students’ reflection on practice;

Provide guidance on ways to help victims;

Strengthen respect for human rights and individuality;

Combat forms of discrimination.

Institutions will have to register and remove offenses

Public and private institutions that maintain websites or profiles on social networks must observe the rules set out in the Marco Civil da Internet and other applicable legislation.

In case of comments or other forms of digital violence on the pages, institutions must record the content for verification purposes and then remove the offenses from the platforms. The occurrence must also be immediately reported to the competent public bodies.

Failure to comply with the law may result in a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 UFIR/RN (Fiscal Reference Unit), considering the characteristics of the institution and the circumstances of the infraction.

In the event of a repeat offense, the fine will be doubled. The legislation establishes that the punishment must take into account the seriousness of the consequences and be pedagogical in nature.

The law also provides for the imposition of a fine on the individual identified as responsible for the practice, subject to the rules of legal capacity provided for in the Civil Code.